Schools

BASIS.ed’s co-founder Dr. Michael Block will speak at a free, public information session on Wed., May 24 at BASIS Independent McLean at 6:15 p.m., located at 8000 Jones Branch Drive in McLean, Va. to discuss U.S. News & World Report’s Best High School Rankings that has listed five of the 10 schools as BASIS.ed – at first, second, third, fifth and seventh place. The public is invited to hear Dr. Block talk about the notable school curriculum that led to BASIS.ed’s reputable U.S. rankings. Cocktail reception begins at 6:15 p.m. with the session to follow at 6:45 p.m. To register, go to http://basisindependent.com/may24 or call 703.854.1253.

Many area students enjoyed a break from school over spring vacation, but BASIS Independent McLean (BIM) French students decided to take their break in Senegal, far from their classroom, but still deeply immersed in an enriching, educational experience of a lifetime. World travel is an optional opportunity for BIM students looking to take their education outside their textbooks and familiar settings. Senegal not only gave French students an immersive environment in the French language, but also provided them a new cultural and societal viewpoint of life outside of McLean, Va. For more information on the school, go to http://mclean.basisindependent.com.

Jacob Anderson, 11, a student at Metropolitan School of the Arts (MSA) of Alexandria Va., is making his national tour debut in the U.S. National Tour of Matilda The Musical. Produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Dodgers, the blockbuster musical named TIME Magazine’s #1 Show of the Year, is on tour in select U.S. cities, now through June 25, 2017. Anderson of Fairfax Station, Va. plays the part of Nigel Hicks in the U.S. National Tour of Matilda the Musical. He’s been studying at MSA since 2014. For more information about the school, go to www.metropolitanarts.org, or view http://us.matildathemusical.com/tour/ for tickets.

“Being part of Matilda the Musical is a dream come true for me, said Jacob Anderson, Metropolitan School of the Arts’ student of Fairfax Station, Va.

Katie Merritt, age 9 of Reston, Va and Gabriel Galdabini, age 7 of Arlington, Va. won LearningRx’s Brain Awareness Month’s March Madness Competition at its Reston and Vienna centers, respectively. The March Madness brain competition required all competitors to complete a circuit of five brain training activities as quickly as possible (with accuracy). Merritt held the winning time at LearningRx Reston at 2 minutes and 7 seconds, while Galdabini won with 4 minutes and 25 seconds LearningRx Vienna. For more information, go to www.learningrx.com.

Merrit and Galdabini received a basket full of brain training games and brain-healthy snacks, including: 5 Second Rule, Set, Spot It, Distraction and Apples to Apples, dark chocolate-covered blueberries and nut mix.

The BASIS Independent McLean MATHCOUNTS team placed first in the MATHCOUNTS state championships in Richmond, Va.; its first time participating in the annual statewide MATHCOUNTS competition. BASIS Independent McLean MATHCOUNTS members include: Austin Feng (8th grade), Joshua Fu (8th grade), Pravalika Putalapattu, (7th grade) and Ethan Zhou (6th grade), and are led by Coaches Tyler Sullivan and Rikki McCullough, s BASIS Independent McLean math teacher. MATHCOUNTS state champions head to the 2017 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition in Orlando, Florida in May. For more information on BASIS Independent McLean, go to http://mclean.basisindependent.com.

Jack and Jill of America, Inc.’s Northern Virginia Chapter conducted a Reading & Writing Symposium recently at BASIS Independent McLean in McLean, Va. facilitated by an Emmy-award winning journalist, distinguished authors, celebrated teachers and a gifted illustrator, to encourage pre-school through high school students to develop an appreciation for the art of writing and illustration through engaging, interactive activities. For more information on BASIS Independent McLean, go to http://mclean.basisindependent.com.

Wil Haygood, author and associate producer of the blockbuster film, The Butler, will present at BASIS Independent McLean on Fri., Mar. 10 from 6:30 pm to 8 p.m., to talk about writing and how his work launched him onto the world stage. The event is free and open to public, located at 8000 Jones Branch Drive in McLean, Va. Haygood will also be available for a book signing, as his two books will be available for sale; The Butler and his latest book, Showdown, which chronicles the battle of the Supreme Court nomination of Thurgood Marshall. For more information on the event, go to http://basisindependent.com/Haygood.